Arts

Talented creative individuals working in the field of visual, auditory and performance arts

Waleed Arshad

Waleed Arshad

Waleed Arshad is a dedicated software architect and community leader within the global Flutter ecosystem. As Pakistan's first Google Developer Expert in Flutter and the author of "Managing State in Flutter Pragmatically," Waleed is passionate about sharing his knowledge. He currently works as a Senior Software Engineer at talabat (UAE) and contributes to academia as a remote Visiting Faculty at IBA Karachi, where he also holds a Masters in Computer Science. Waleed further strengthens the tech community as the Tech Director of GDG Cloud Emirates (Dubai) and has been instrumental in nurturing Flutter Karachi for the past seven years.

Waleed Arshad is a dedicated software architect and community leader within the global Flutter ecosystem. As Pakistan's first Google Developer Expert in Flutter and the author of "Managing State in Flutter Pragmatically," Waleed is passionate about s... Show more

Taite Heller

Taite Heller

Taite Heller is a Health and Exercise Science student at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In addition to her major, she is pursuing minors in Biology and Psychology while maintaining a 3.97 GPA. She is expected to graduate in 2027 and is currently on the Pre-Physician Assistant track. With a strong interest in healthcare and patient-centered service, she plans to attend PA school after completing her undergraduate studies. Her academic achievements reflect a commitment to learning, growth, and professional development.

Beyond the classroom, Taite is a Division I student-athlete on the Wake Forest University Dance Team. Balancing a demanding academic schedule with the responsibilities of collegiate athletics has strengthened her leadership skills, discipline, and ability to manage multiple commitments. Her dedication to the team was recognized during the 2025-2026 season when she earned the MVP Award for her performance and commitment.

As a member of the dance team for three years, Heller trains and performs for more than 15 hours each week while maintaining her academic responsibilities. She helps create an engaging atmosphere at athletic events through performances and interactions with fans. Her involvement also includes mentoring young dancers through junior spirit programs and representing the university and athletic department at alumni and donor events. She competes annually at the Universal Dance Association National Championship in Division IA, one of the most competitive collegiate dance levels. During the 2025-2026 season, the team secured the program's first national championship in the DIA Gameday Live category.

Leadership plays an important role in her college experience. Taite serves as a representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where she helps strengthen communication between student-athletes and the athletic department. Through this position, she contributes to leadership initiatives, supports student-athlete advocacy, and promotes community engagement. In 2025, she was selected as the student-athlete voice at the Faculty Advisory Committee meeting for Wake Forest Athletics. This recognition marked the first time a member of the Spirit Program had been chosen for the role. She was also selected to represent Wake Forest Athletics at a Leadership & Character Development Program event, where she shared perspectives on team culture, values, identity, positivity, and mindset.

Her passion for healthcare has led her to pursue research opportunities that complement her academic studies. As a Research Assistant for IGROOVE-POWER, Heller worked alongside graduate students in a geriatric movement laboratory. Her responsibilities included collecting and organizing muscle power measurements at the knee and ankle joints using standardized testing procedures. Through this experience, she gained exposure to geriatric research, functional movement assessment, and studies focused on cognitive aging.

During the Spring 2026 semester, Taite served as a clinical research intern for The Osteoarthritis Prevention Study at Wake Forest University. This multisite clinical trial examines whether diet, exercise, and weight-loss maintenance can help prevent knee osteoarthritis in women who are at risk for the condition. Her involvement provided valuable experience in clinical research and healthcare-focused investigations.

During the Spring 2026 semester, Heller established “Dancing With the Deacs,” a dance class created in partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston-Salem. Through this program, she teaches children and adults with Down syndrome, encouraging movement, self-expression, and mind-body connection through dance. She also volunteers as a dance instructor at GiGi’s Playhouse, where she works with both children and adults through educational and developmental programs.

Taite Heller has been selected to serve as a Teaching Assistant in Human Gross Anatomy. In this position, she will work closely with faculty members on cadaver preparation and dissection, assist with laboratory sessions, and support student learning. She is also pursuing her Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certification while seeking opportunities to gain direct patient care experience. Through her accomplishments in academics, athletics, leadership, research, and community service, she continues to build a strong foundation for a future healthcare career.

Taite Heller is a Health and Exercise Science student at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In addition to her major, she is pursuing minors in Biology and Psychology while maintaining a 3.97 GPA. She is expected to graduate in ... Show more

Brock Satter

Brock Satter

Brock Satter is Director of Infosoul Laboratories in Salem, Massachusetts, which builds AI systems for libraries, unions, congregations and nonprofits on their own machines, with their own data, under their own control. He has spent thirty years in front of rooms as a community organizer and political candidate. At the University of Minnesota he was a BA student in science, technology and culture, in a major he designed, focusing on information technology, biotechnology and artificial intelligence. He is the author of the forthcoming book The AI Age, For the Layman, a primer for readers who are not engineers, and gives the public talk of the same name and hands-on workshops on running AI locally. He is not selling anything from the stage.

Brock Satter is Director of Infosoul Laboratories in Salem, Massachusetts, which builds AI systems for libraries, unions, congregations and nonprofits on their own machines, with their own data, under their own control. He has spent thirty years in f... Show more

Guro Faller

Guro Faller

Solution architect from Norway with a passion for vintage clothing and good customer experiences. Guro has worked for 10+ years with Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. Her background is varied, with experience in retail, fashion, financial services, marketing, and event management.
Guro is part of organizing multiple community events, such as the Nordic Summit.

Solution architect from Norway with a passion for vintage clothing and good customer experiences. Guro has worked for 10+ years with Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. Her background is varied, with experience in retail, fashion, financial services... Show more

Mary Foster

Mary Foster

Mary Foster is the Heritage and Cultural Arts Program Manager for the City of Allen, Texas, where she oversees programming and interpretation at Allen Heritage Village and supports preservation and interpretation efforts at the historic Allen Cemetery. Her work brings together historic preservation, public programming, community engagement, and parks and recreation to connect residents with the history of their community.

Foster holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler and previously served as a museum curator at the 1859 Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum, where she curated exhibits and developed educational programs. She also served as Campaign Director for United Way of Smith County, supporting fundraising efforts for 26 local nonprofit organizations.

With nearly a decade of experience working across museums, history, parks and recreation, and nonprofit organizations, Foster is particularly interested in local and recent history, historic cemeteries, urban archaeology, and finding creative ways to make history meaningful and accessible to the communities where it happened.

Mary Foster is the Heritage and Cultural Arts Program Manager for the City of Allen, Texas, where she oversees programming and interpretation at Allen Heritage Village and supports preservation and interpretation efforts at the historic Allen Cemeter... Show more

Aaron J. Cunningham

Aaron J. Cunningham

Aaron J. Cunningham is a Berlin-based Lead Creative Technologist and specializing in playable browser-based 3D worlds. He built Spirit Realm, a multiplayer Three.js metaverse with automatic BVH colliders, an art gallery, live chat, and NFT minting, showcased at NFT NYC. His work spans Three.js, immersive websites, Web3, and full-stack development. He turns ambitious visual ideas into polished interactive experiences.

Aaron J. Cunningham is a Berlin-based Lead Creative Technologist and specializing in playable browser-based 3D worlds. He built Spirit Realm, a multiplayer Three.js metaverse with automatic BVH colliders, an art gallery, live chat, and NFT minting,... Show more

Divya Dave

Divya Dave

Hi, I’m Divya Dave, a Flutter developer with 5 years of experience turning ideas into intuitive, high-performance mobile applications. I specialize in building cross-platform solutions that not only meet business requirements but also deliver exceptional user experiences.

Throughout my career, I have contributed to diverse projects:
E-commerce platforms with Stripe integration, enabling smooth transactions and streamlined order processes.
IoT-based applications using UDP, MQTT, and BLE for seamless communication between devices.
Smart Tags, a creative app for generating and managing Instagram hashtags.
Platforms empowering users to generate no-code mobile applications, transforming websites into fully functional iOS and Android apps.

✨ Skills: Flutter, Dart, REST APIs, SQLite, Firebase, Socket Programming, IoT, Payment Gateways, MQTT
🎯 Achievements: Projects live on the Play Store and App Store, delivering value to end users.

Hi, I’m Divya Dave, a Flutter developer with 5 years of experience turning ideas into intuitive, high-performance mobile applications. I specialize in building cross-platform solutions that not only meet business requirements but also deliver excepti... Show more

Neeraj Pandey

Neeraj Pandey

Neeraj is the co-founder of Vivid Climate, a climate management and accounting platform. Neeraj is a polyglot. Over the years, he has worked on a variety of full-stack software and data-science applications, as well as computational arts, and likes the challenge of creating new tools and applications, and is an active speaker with talks and tutorials presented at multiple conferences.

Neeraj is the co-founder of Vivid Climate, a climate management and accounting platform. Neeraj is a polyglot. Over the years, he has worked on a variety of full-stack software and data-science applications, as well as computational arts, and likes t... Show more

Peter Bergner

Peter Bergner

Peter Bergner is a Game Developer & Consultant with a 15-year long track record who's shipped on just about everything - mobile, PC, console, and VR, from Studio Fizbin's narrative adventure Minute of Islands to blockchain esports to digital board games. A serious anime, manga, and gacha fan, he's run the games area of a 20,000-visitor anime convention and consulted on a Japanese gacha title. His running obsession: the tools and workflows that let a small team out-ship a much bigger one.

Peter Bergner is a Game Developer & Consultant with a 15-year long track record who's shipped on just about everything - mobile, PC, console, and VR, from Studio Fizbin's narrative adventure Minute of Islands to blockchain esports to digital board ga... Show more

Nalin Theodore

Nalin Theodore

Nalin Theodore is a recent graduate of Christopher Newport University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Leadership Studies. During his time at CNU, Nalin was actively involved in the Presidential Leadership Program, Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society, Residence Life, and the Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Team. Nalin’s interest in sustainability grew through his involvement in student-led environmental initiatives and his work as a Reuzzi Student Ambassador. In this role, he used his strengths in communication, storytelling, and video production to create engaging promotional content that raised awareness of Reuzzi’s sustainable solutions and encouraged more environmentally conscious choices among college students. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Management at George Mason University while working as a Sales Consultant at Safford Subaru Manassas. Nalin is passionate about using communication, leadership, and creative media to strengthen communities and make sustainability more accessible and engaging. Outside of his professional and academic work, he enjoys volunteering in his community, creating videos, staying active, exploring the outdoors, and playing ultimate frisbee.

Nalin Theodore is a recent graduate of Christopher Newport University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Leadership Studies. During his time at CNU, Nalin was actively involved in the Presidential Leadership ... Show more

Dilan Jhosep Lujan Rojas

Dilan Jhosep Lujan Rojas

Soy estudiante de 18 años, actualmente cursando el segundo semestre de Ingeniería de Software en Jala University y el primer semestre de Ingeniería de Sistemas en la Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS).

Actualmente me encuentro desarrollando un proyecto de software para una academia de artes marciales en la cual entreno, esta experiencia me ha permitido llevar mis conocimientos académicos a un proyecto real y seguir explorando el mundo del desarrollo de software.

Me considero una persona curiosa y multidisciplinaria, con especial interés por la tecnología y el deseo de conocer sus diferentes áreas. Entre ellas se encuentran el desarrollo de software y videojuegos, desarrollo web, electrónica, IoT, ciberseguridad e inteligencia artificial. Mi objetivo no es limitarme a una sola área, sino explorar cómo estas disciplinas pueden conectarse entre sí.

Fuera de la tecnología, mis principales pasiones son la música y la lingüística. Disfruto componer, cantar y bailar, mientras que mi interés por los idiomas nace de mi curiosidad por comprender las diferentes formas en que las personas se comunican. Actualmente cuento con un nivel intermedio de inglés y estoy aprendiendo japonés.

Precisamente, el interés por explorar múltiples disciplinas y la necesidad de organizar mi tiempo para poder dedicarme a ellas fueron parte de la inspiración para crear mi propio sistema de organización basado en RPG. A partir de esta experiencia nace la propuesta que presento en esta sesión: explorar cómo la gamificación puede transformar la organización y los hábitos diarios.

Mi objetivo es seguir aprendiendo, experimentar con diferentes disciplinas y convertir esa curiosidad en proyectos que pueda construir y compartir.

Soy estudiante de 18 años, actualmente cursando el segundo semestre de Ingeniería de Software en Jala University y el primer semestre de Ingeniería de Sistemas en la Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS). Actualmente me encuentro desarrollando un ... Show more

J Matthew Saunders

J Matthew Saunders

Matthew started working on the Web in '95 at an experimental dance company in Ottawa Canada. This became an obsession with bleeding edge technologies. His decades of experience in the technology sphere as a project manager and Web application architect segued into joining the Drupal community in 2007. He has spoken at numerous tech conferences. Saunders was on the Drupalcon Denver organizing committee, is Director of Drupalcamp Colorado, and helped found the Drupal Event Organizing Working Group. Matthew recently left Pfizer as Delivery Lead for the Health Care Provider Portal and is looking for his next challenge. He runs a consultancy at https://www.jamesmatthewsaunders.ai. He is an activist in neurodiversity. Matthew recently joined amazee.io as their AI Ambassador.

Matthew started working on the Web in '95 at an experimental dance company in Ottawa Canada. This became an obsession with bleeding edge technologies. His decades of experience in the technology sphere as a project manager and Web application archite... Show more

Gena Dellett

Gena Dellett

Gena Dellett, CEO of Skvare, is a client advocate who believes in the fundamental importance of relationships. Gena cultivates a supportive environment, encouraging her team to experiment, adapt, and consider unique perspectives. Her joy lies in witnessing these practices foster impactful client relationships through a strong commitment to teamwork.

Through her work at the intersection of business operations, development, and technology; Gena recognizes that relationship-building is not just a strategy—it's a way of operating. Known for her adeptness in asking the right questions, she guides Skvare as a technology company that recommends a pencil when it's the best tool for the job. Gena understands that Skvare's ongoing success hinges on effective recommendations balancing clients' needs with their budgets and views her work as building and supporting meaning-making spaces – online hubs where people access resources, connect with peers, and take action on issues they care about.

Gena Dellett, CEO of Skvare, is a client advocate who believes in the fundamental importance of relationships. Gena cultivates a supportive environment, encouraging her team to experiment, adapt, and consider unique perspectives. Her joy lies in witn... Show more

Ivan Chiou

Ivan Chiou

Throughout my career, I have held roles as a Software Engineer, System Engineer, System Analyst, Project Manager, Product Manager, Scrum Master, Front-end Manager, and Film Director. Currently, I am leveraging my expertise to lead software development, drive innovation, and introduce new front-end technology at PAIA Corp. My experience in multimedia integration and cross-functional collaboration has equipped me with valuable skills to effectively mentor and inspire the team, providing young engineers with guidance and hope for their future careers.

Throughout my career, I have held roles as a Software Engineer, System Engineer, System Analyst, Project Manager, Product Manager, Scrum Master, Front-end Manager, and Film Director. Currently, I am leveraging my expertise to lead software developmen... Show more

Aysenem Yassa

Aysenem Yassa

Aysenem Yassa is a global live experience and entertainment executive who orchestrates the strategic architecture and creative execution of the world's most complex, high-stakes mega-events.

Her 15-year career spans senior enterprise leadership for premier sports properties, international broadcast productions, and multi-venue live entertainment environments, including UEFA, FIBA and the Pan American Games.

She masterminds the cross-functional delivery of multi-million euro venue ecosystems, live-to-air broadcast environments, and audience-first experiential activations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.

A senior strategist operating at the critical intersection of technical infrastructure, media production, and artistic direction, she balances high-stakes global delivery with creative disciplines in music, dance, and comedy to shape memorable experiences for global audiences.

Aysenem Yassa is a global live experience and entertainment executive who orchestrates the strategic architecture and creative execution of the world's most complex, high-stakes mega-events. Her 15-year career spans senior enterprise leadership fo... Show more

Isabelle Andreani

Isabelle Andreani

As a Writer and Director for new media and immersive technologies, I write and design narrative experiences such as Nana Lou, awarded animated and interactive film for virtual reality produced by SMALL Creative / Skill Lab / France Télévisions.
A specialist in new media, I also support creators, producers, agencies, and institutions in the production of their digital formats, and I teach new narrative at university.
Trained as an engineer and researcher in Physics, followed by a Master's degree in New Technology Management from HEC - Télécom Paristech, I built my career around the Internet between the United States and Europe, successively developing skills in software development, marketing, entrepreneurship, and production. I have been innovating in the creation of interactive content and digital experiences for over 25 years .

Works
>> Nana Lou 2024 - A VR animated and interactive tale inviting the viewer to play a spirit accompanying a grandmother in her final moments - Duration : 35 minutes
*European XR Award 2024 - Best User Experience
*Selections in competition - 2024 : Annecy Festival, Venice Biennale, Animateka, Thessaloniki, Stereopsia - 2025 : Lux Film Fest, Kaboom, Anifilm, Anibar, Animest, Clermont Ferrand, Fivars, Guanajato, Kaohsiung, Lëtzebuerger Filmprais

>>Last Night - 2019/2021/2022/2024 - A comics series for Instagram about the neuroscience of addiction in the daily lives of a group of students

As a Writer and Director for new media and immersive technologies, I write and design narrative experiences such as Nana Lou, awarded animated and interactive film for virtual reality produced by SMALL Creative / Skill Lab / France Télévisions. A sp... Show more

Frances Sun

Frances Sun

Frances Sun is a Taiwanese UX/UI designer with almost 15 years of experience in UI/UX at some of the world’s biggest and most respected names in technology and entertainment.

In her current role at The Walt Disney Company, she leads the Ad Platforms team, overseeing UX for the flagship sales product used across Disney’s linear channels like ABC and ESPN.

Frances began her teaching career in 2020 at Austin Community College, where she taught UX/UI design, visual design, and portfolio design.

Frances Sun is a Taiwanese UX/UI designer with almost 15 years of experience in UI/UX at some of the world’s biggest and most respected names in technology and entertainment. In her current role at The Walt Disney Company, she leads the Ad Platfor... Show more

Stephanie Weis

Stephanie Weis

Stephanie Weis, M.Ed. is a Product Manager at Carnegie Mellon University and an ADHD coach. She holds a Master of Education from Duquesne University and completed ICF-accredited coach training through the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA). Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, she draws on lived experience alongside her work at CMU's Central Computing Services, where she leads product strategy and continuous improvement for a 23-service IT portfolio across a decentralized, multi-campus organization, and was selected as 1 of 9 leaders from 300+ applicants for CMU's MOR Leaders program. She has taken the stage at NERCOMP (EDUCAUSE), the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and Pennwriters, and was an adjunct faculty member teaching writing at the Community College of Allegheny County. Through her coaching practice, she works with individuals to move beyond one-size-fits-all strategies and find what actually works for the ADHD brain.

Stephanie Weis, M.Ed. is a Product Manager at Carnegie Mellon University and an ADHD coach. She holds a Master of Education from Duquesne University and completed ICF-accredited coach training through the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA). Diagnosed with ADH... Show more

Alexandre Huete

Alexandre Huete

Explorateur de la planète agile, je ne voyage jamais sans mon traducteur de communication bienveillante pour aider les gens à mieux communiquer ensemble, mes feutres, de toutes les couleurs et de toutes les tailles, pour les aider à se comprendre, et mes légos pour les faire travailler sans qu’ils ne s’en rendent compte. Le tout avec sérieux mais sans jamais me prendre au sérieux !

Explorateur de la planète agile, je ne voyage jamais sans mon traducteur de communication bienveillante pour aider les gens à mieux communiquer ensemble, mes feutres, de toutes les couleurs et de toutes les tailles, pour les aider à se comprendre, et... Show more

Giovanni Caristi

Giovanni Caristi

I started programming in the '80s on a ZX Spectrum, and it's been with me ever since — through BASIC, Assembly, C, Perl and Python. After a degree in Information Engineering, I spent over 20 years as an IP network engineer, along the way building a tool to automate network auditing and configuration. Today I work in a team developing AI agents to support network operations. I'm also a semi-professional musician: I play piano and keyboards, and I compose.

I started programming in the '80s on a ZX Spectrum, and it's been with me ever since — through BASIC, Assembly, C, Perl and Python. After a degree in Information Engineering, I spent over 20 years as an IP network engineer, along the way building a t... Show more

Christopher Burpee

Christopher Burpee

Christopher Burpee is the Director of Student Centers at University of Chicago. Chris previously worked at both Northwestern University and Northeastern Illinois University. Chris served on the Conference Program Team for the 2022 Annual Conference in Chicago. He has a Masters in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Northwestern University, and a BFA from DePaul University.

Christopher Burpee is the Director of Student Centers at University of Chicago. Chris previously worked at both Northwestern University and Northeastern Illinois University. Chris served on the Conference Program Team for the 2022 Annual Conference... Show more

Shivam Sunderam

Shivam Sunderam

Shivam is a Senior Product Designer at eBay’s core AI team, based in Berlin, shaping the future of e-commerce. Prior to eBay he worked on leading the designs efforts for couple of AI driven initiatives at Trivago, global leader in travel tech. He advocates for a human-centered approach to AI, emphasizing the critical balance between technology and empathy in shaping user experiences. Before trivago, he contributed to Sprinklr, helping to redefine unified customer experience management. He also interned at Microsoft.

Shivam is a Senior Product Designer at eBay’s core AI team, based in Berlin, shaping the future of e-commerce. Prior to eBay he worked on leading the designs efforts for couple of AI driven initiatives at Trivago, global leader in travel tech. He adv... Show more

Holger Müller

Holger Müller

Holger Müller ist Diplom-Designer mit Fokus Prozessgestaltung. Als Studiengangskoordinator für den interdisziplinären Bachelorstudiengang Code & Context (Informatik, Design, Innovation Skills) an der TH Köln agiert er als Schnittstelle zwischen Studierenden, Lehrenden und der Hochschule. Zudem ist er am ZLE (Zentrum für Lehrentwicklung) der TH Köln Curriculum-Entwickler und berät hierbei die Studiengangsteams bei den Curriculumwerkstätten. Hierfür entwickelt er Feedbackformate und Vision-Workshops mit LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®.

Holger Müller ist Diplom-Designer mit Fokus Prozessgestaltung. Als Studiengangskoordinator für den interdisziplinären Bachelorstudiengang Code & Context (Informatik, Design, Innovation Skills) an der TH Köln agiert er als Schnittstelle zwischen Studi... Show more

Alexandra Zakharova

Alexandra Zakharova

Alexandra Zakharova est Senior Technical Trainer chez Microsoft, spécialisée en Data et Intelligence Artificielle, et professeure universitaire. Elle est passionnée par la transmission des connaissances et la veille technologique. Elle intervient régulièrement lors de conférences pour partager les dernières avancées en IA.

Alexandra Zakharova est Senior Technical Trainer chez Microsoft, spécialisée en Data et Intelligence Artificielle, et professeure universitaire. Elle est passionnée par la transmission des connaissances et la veille technologique. Elle intervient rég... Show more

Matthew Jones

Matthew Jones

Matthew "Makerinator" Jones is a Senior Innovation Engineer, Flutter developer, and maker based in Virginia Beach. He believes the best software has something physical attached to it. His presentations focus on the intersection of embedded hardware and modern app development. When he's not building fintech solutions at his day job, he's designing PCBs in KiCad, deploying Flutter on Raspberry Pi, and running Makerinator on YouTube. Matthew is what happens when a software developer gets a CNC router and too many ideas.

Matthew "Makerinator" Jones is a Senior Innovation Engineer, Flutter developer, and maker based in Virginia Beach. He believes the best software has something physical attached to it. His presentations focus on the intersection of embedded hardware a... Show more

Gregory Serdahl

Gregory Serdahl

Gregory Serdahl’s working life has unfolded through consistent effort, practical responsibility, and long-term engagement with people and organizations. His career reflects a measured progression across creative study, nonprofit leadership, and therapeutic wellness, rather than a narrow or accelerated path. By combining leadership roles with hands-on practice, he developed an approach rooted in experience, accountability, and sustained service.

Across multiple decades, Gregory has operated in environments that required both structure and personal involvement. His professional background includes managing nonprofit arts organizations and later founding and operating a national wellness company. These roles placed him in collaboration with professional athletes, institutional clients, and public figures. In each setting, he focused on reliability, ethical conduct, and systems designed to function effectively over time.

Gregory’s academic journey began at the University of California, Irvine, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater between 1983 and 1986. His studies emphasized collaboration, performance theory, and disciplined preparation. These academic foundations later supported his professional work by strengthening communication skills, observation, and awareness of physical presence. During this period, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, reflecting his commitment to academic engagement and structured learning.

A formative experience during Gregory’s early development was a year spent abroad at the University of Bergen in Oslo, Norway (1983-84). Living and studying in an international environment exposed him to different cultural perspectives and daily practices. This period encouraged adaptability and independence, qualities that later influenced his leadership style and approach to professional relationships.

After completing his education, Gregory entered the nonprofit arts sector and became artistic director of the Alisal Center for the Fine Arts. The organization served a primarily Hispanic migrant farmworker community by providing access to cultural programs and educational opportunities. From January 1986 to January 1989, he was responsible for daily operations, budgeting, fundraising, and community engagement. This role strengthened his ability to lead mission-driven organizations while remaining responsive to the needs of underserved populations.

Gregory’s transition into wellness followed his participation in massage programs at Michael O'Shea's Sport Training Institute. In 1991, he founded Serdahl Associates, which later became Massage America, Ltd. His goal was to build a massage and wellness organization capable of operating within large institutional environments. Under his leadership, the company managed massage programs for Crunch Fitness, several New York Sports Club locations, and the New York Football Giants during the Dan Reeves era.

Massage America later partnered with Mount Sinai and NYU hospitals, the Printing House Athletic Club, and the Manhattan Athletic Club. Gregory oversaw staffing, operations, and service consistency across these settings. These responsibilities reinforced his understanding of how therapeutic services can be integrated into athletic, medical, and corporate systems while maintaining professional standards.

Alongside his role as a business owner, Gregory continued to work directly with clients. His practice included individuals from politics, professional sports, media, and the arts. On one notable day, his schedule included Ed Koch, Lawrence Taylor, Edgar Bronfman, Katharine Hepburn, and Arthur Ashe. These experiences reflected trust developed through discretion, technical skill, and steady practice.

Gregory’s therapeutic background includes deep tissue massage, Swedish techniques, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and craniosacral therapy. He also incorporates yoga, Pilates, Yogic Neuromuscular Therapy, as taught by the late Dyal Singh Khalsa, Gyrotonics training, and certification as a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist. Having employed more than 500 massage therapists throughout his career, he remains actively engaged in his profession today, continuing his work with a focus on responsibility, long-term service, and honoring the teachings of the late Canadian Poet and Philosopher Kenneth George Mills through his role as President of the Kenneth G. Mills Foundation.

Gregory Serdahl’s working life has unfolded through consistent effort, practical responsibility, and long-term engagement with people and organizations. His career reflects a measured progression across creative study, nonprofit leadership, and thera... Show more

David Gregory

David Gregory

David Gregory is a founder, builder, and storyteller working at the intersection of hospitality, tourism, food, business, and experience design.

He is the creator of IC Pasta, a dessert concept built around playful, memorable guest experiences, and the mind behind immersive projects that blend storytelling, hospitality, and real-world interaction. His perspective comes from building businesses, designing experiences, and paying attention to the details most people move past too quickly.

David speaks about what makes experiences feel real, why hospitality loses something when it becomes too polished or too rehearsed, how businesses can build something with a pulse instead of just a pitch, and why context matters more than most people realize. His work is rooted in real operations, guest psychology, storytelling, and the belief that people remember what feels human.

Whether he is talking about food, tourism, service, branding, or experience design, the thread is the same: what makes something worth caring about?

David Gregory is a founder, builder, and storyteller working at the intersection of hospitality, tourism, food, business, and experience design. He is the creator of IC Pasta, a dessert concept built around playful, memorable guest experiences, an... Show more

Mike de Jager

Mike de Jager

South African born, UK resident, Mike is a Mechanical Design Engineer & spent 20 years as a Draughtsman in the Dairy industry, a Project Technician & ran the drawing office for NCD/Clover Dairies. At Toyota, he worked as a mechanical designer in body in white. He moved to the UK in 2001, spent 7 years creating & designing 3D technical models.
He continued his studies in IT & enhanced his developer & web design skills at Halesowen College.
At age 50, in 2008 Mike jumped tracks & began a new career as IT Manager & NAV implementation project leader for SSI Schaefer in Andover, England. With the NAV project successfully implemented, he moved to Evosoft as support office manager, then to Sci-Net in Oxford as a consultant & then to KPMG for a three year corporate engagement.
As the Dynamics 365 Solution Architect for Experience/GCC for almost 3 years - now Global Solutions Architect for Dynavics, Mike has implemented multiple D365 solutions for a range of customers in a variety of industries in the UK.

South African born, UK resident, Mike is a Mechanical Design Engineer & spent 20 years as a Draughtsman in the Dairy industry, a Project Technician & ran the drawing office for NCD/Clover Dairies. At Toyota, he worked as a mechanical designer in body... Show more

Aymeric Laleau

Aymeric Laleau

Tech Lead le jour, musicien décalé le reste du temps, j’aborde le développement comme une bonne jam session : écoute, rythme et justesse.
Mes valeurs ? Collaboration, transparence, et le respect du tempo de chacun. J’aime travailler en harmonie collective, et partager mes riffs, mes fails et mes trouvailles pour aider les équipes à jouer juste ensemble.

Tech Lead le jour, musicien décalé le reste du temps, j’aborde le développement comme une bonne jam session : écoute, rythme et justesse. Mes valeurs ? Collaboration, transparence, et le respect du tempo de chacun. J’aime travailler en harmonie col... Show more

Jeff Krakenberg

Jeff Krakenberg

As a technical trainer and security researcher, it is my goal to spread awareness and knowledge. Daily experiences include lecturing about cybersecurity, moderating open discussions about vulnerabilities, and building hacking labs. Like many others, I often delve too deep into the weeds of the internet.

As a technical trainer and security researcher, it is my goal to spread awareness and knowledge. Daily experiences include lecturing about cybersecurity, moderating open discussions about vulnerabilities, and building hacking labs. Like many others, ... Show more

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